ABOUT US

OUR HISTORY

The first meeting of the executive committee was held on November 24, 1924, at the State Education Department in Albany. Herman J. Norton served as the first president of the association from 1924 - 1930. Through the years, there have been remarkably dedicated and enthusiastic professionals who have stepped forward to provide visionary leadership demonstrating a willingness to serve with extraordinary courage. These inspired leaders have provided stability and focus as we continue on our journey...

OUR LEADERSHIP

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Presidential Leadership

Since 1924 we have had eighty-two presidents, 51 have been men and 31 have been women. Six of our NYS AHPERD presidents also served as presidents of the Eastern District Association and one served as president of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. Our presidents serve a three-year term as president-elect, president and past president. The president guides the executive council in terms of association policies and member services.

Board of Directors

The Board of Directors shall be responsible for the financial and legal matters of the Association. Voting members are the president, president-elect, past resident, and 6 members-at-large. Non-Voting members include the executive director and the treasurer. These are three-year terms and the board meets five times annually unless additional meetings are required to conduct the business of the association. Financial stability is the foundation upon which a membership service organization grows.

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Section 2 - #3 Executive Council 1450x845px

Executive Council

The executive council's primary responsibility is to establish policies, other than legal and financial, which pertain to the annual conference, membership, activities of the Zones and Sections, publications, including amendments and revisions to the By-Laws and Operating Codes. The 29-member council consists of 11 Zone presidents,  16 Section presidents, 1 future professional president-elect, and a secretary. These are two-year terms and the council meets five times annually. 

Central Office Staff

The central office staff is comprised of an executive director, an assistant to the executive director/conference director, 3 full-time and 2 part-time assistants. This dedicated team is committed to providing quality service to our members in a delightful manner, always with the members best interest at heart. Our office is located at 77 North Ann Street, Little Falls, New York. Dedicated in April 2001 the property is situated in the historic corridor of the city.

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NYS AHPERD Financial Policies and Reports

Presidential Team

Hayes, Murphee

Murphee Hayes

NYS AHPERD President

Director of Athletics, Health and Physical Education
Whitney Point Central School District
Central South Zone

Contact Murphee!

Connors, Shelly

Shelly Conners

NYS AHPERD President-elect

Physical Education Teacher
Auburn Jr. High School
Central North Zone

Contact Shelly!

Seymour, Clancy

Dr. Clancy Seymour

NYS AHPERD Past President

Assistant Professor
Director of Health, Physical Education, & Sport Pedagogy
Canisius College
Western Zone

Contact Clancy!

Past Presidents Archives

Ray, Tam

Dr. Tamela Ray

NYS AHPERD Board of Directors Chair

Director of Health, Physical Education & Athletics, Retired
Auburn School District
Central North Zone

Contact Tam!

Owen, Laura

Laura Owen

NYS AHPERD Board of Directors

Physical Education Teacher
White Plains High School
Southeastern Zone

Contact Laura!

Tobin, Donn

Donn Tobin

NYS AHPERD Board of Directors

Physical Education Teacher
Lakeview Elementary School
Southeastern Zone

Contact Donn!

Testimonials - Victor Ramsey

Dr. Victor Ramsey

NYS AHPERD Board of Directors

New York City Department of Education 
NYC Zone

Contact Victor!

Amundson, Rick

Rick Amundson

NYS AHPERD Board of Directors

Treasurer

Relyea, Allison (1)

Allison Relyea

NYS AHPERD Board of Directors

Physical Education Teacher
Guilderland High School
Capital Zone

Contact Allison!

Higher Ed-Professional Prep - Norris, Michael

Michael Norris

NYS AHPERD Board of Directors

Assistant Professor; Coordinator of the HPE/PE Major, Coaching Minor

Syracuse University
Central North Zone

Contact Michael!

Secretary - Strong, John

John Strong

Executive Council Secretary

Niagara Community College

Assistant Professor
Western Zone

Contact John!

Adapted PE - Davis, Tim

Dr. Tim Davis

Adapted Physical Education & Sport Section

SUNY Cortland
Central South Zone


Contact Tim!

Aquatics - Stuttle, Kevin

Kevin Stuttle

Aquatics Section

K-5 Physical Education Teacher, Aquatics Director
Canajoharie Central School District
Capital Zone

Contact Kevin!

Coaches - Yarnell, Steve

Steve Yarnell

Coaches Section

Retired
Central North Zone

Contact Steve!

Council of Administrators - Haight, Cathy

Cathy Haight

Council of Administrators Section

Assistant Principal/Athletic Director
Southern Cayuga High School
Central South Zone

Contact Cathy!

Dance - Herrera, M

Maleda Herrera

Dance Section

Middle/High School Physical Education Teacher
Avon CSD
Central Western Zone

Contact Maleda!

Gendron, Terry 2020

Terry Gendron

Elementary PE Section

Cohoes Central School District
Capital Zone

Contact Terry!

Dr. Sheri Treadwell

Equity, Diversity & Inclusiveness Section

Associate Professor
SUNY Brockport
Central Western Zone

Contact Sheri!

Exercise Science-Sports Medicine - Palmieri, Lisa

Lisa Palmieri

Exercise Science/Sports Medicine Section

Physical Education Teacher
Carmel Central School District
Southeastern Zone

Contact Lisa!

Calderon, R 2021

Richelle Calderon

Future Professionals Section

Syracuse University Student
Syracuse City Schools
Central North Zone

Contact Richelle!

Scibelli, A 2021

Anthony Scibelli

Future Professionals Section

SUNY Cortland
Nassau Zone

Contact Anthony!

Dr. Mara Manson

Future Professionals
Section Advisor

Adelphi University
Associate Professor
Nassau Zone

Contact Mara!

Health - Lynch, Kristie

Dr. Kristie Lynch

Health Education Section

Assistant Professor, Physical Education
Adelphi University
Southeastern Zone

Contact Kristie!

Higher Ed-Professional Prep - Norris, Michael

Dr. Michael Norris

Higher Education / Professional Preparation Section

Assistant Professor; Coordinator of the HPE/PE Major
Syracuse University
Central North Zone

Contact Michael!

Michael Ertel

Middle School/High School
PE Section

Health and Physical Education Teacher/Wellness Director
Notre Dame Academy

Contact Michael!

Brianne Blaszak

Recreation / Adventure Education Section

K-12 Physical Education and Health Teacher
Global Concepts Charter School
Western Zone

Contact Brianne!

Retirees - Fries, Dennie

Denny Fries

Retirees Section

Retired
West Irondequoit CSD
Central Western Zone

Contact Denny!

Technology - Bifarella, Lori

Lori Bifarella

Technology Section

Elementary Physical Education pre-K -4
Attica Central School District
Central Western Zone

Contact Lori!

Zones

Verga, Dustin Capital Zone (1)

Dustin Verga

Capital Zone

Assistant Principal
Shenendehowa Central School District

Contact Dustin!

Kathy Young

Catskill Zone

Physical Education Teacher
Newburgh Enlarged City School District

Contact Kathy!

Williams, Sandy Central North Zone

Sandy Williams

Central North Zone

Retired
Rome City School District

Contact Sandy!

Dr. Helena Baert

Central South Zone

Associate Professor
SUNY Cortland

Contact Helena!

Eric Kohl

Central Western Zone

Adapted Physical Education Teacher
Lois E. Bird/Morgan School Monroe #1 BOCES

Contact Eric!

 

Opperman, Henry Nassau Zone

Henry Opperman

Nassau Zone

High School Health & Physical Education Teacher
Uniondale Union Free School District

Contact Henry!

Carrano, Anthony NYC Zone

Anthony Carrano

New York City Zone

Office of School Wellness- Instructional Coach
New York City Department of Education

Contact Anthony!

Tyler, Janelle Northern Zone

Janelle Tyler

Northern Zone

Physical Education Teacher
Potsdam Central School District

Contact Janelle!

Sherman, Lisa Southeastern Zone

Lisa Sherman

Southeastern Zone

Health Education Teacher
White Plains Public Schools

Contact Lisa!

Lori Hewlett

Suffolk Zone

Retired
Sachem Central School District

Contact Lori!

Ratka, Heather Western Zone

Heather Ratka

Western Zone

PE Teacher/Curriculum Coordinator
Ken-Ton UFSD

Contact Heather!

Corsi, C HiRes

Colleen Corsi

Executive Director

Colleen has been our executive director for twenty-two years. She provides professional leadership, oversees the ongoing management of the association including staff, facilities, member services, provides technical assistance to members, and implements the policies of the Executive Council within the framework of the budget established by the Board of Directors.

 

Contact Colleen!

Synenki, J HiRes

Jessica A. Synenki

Director of Professional Development and Human Resources

Jessica joined our staff in January 2006. She is Director of Professional Development and Human Resources. She is responsible for organizing and managing the annual conference, organizing webinars, meetings, and newsletters. She brings creative talent to our promotional materials and works on membership recruitment and retention initiatives.

 

Contact Jessica!

Corbett, L HiRes - 1

Lisa Corbett

Zone and Projects Manager

Lisa has been with us since September 2007. As the Zone and Projects Manager, she is the contact person for all Zone needs, managing Zone finances, email communications, conference registrations, on-line professional development, and other Zone events. She also works on miscellaneous projects with Colleen and Jessica as needed.

 

Contact Lisa!

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Kayla Demeree

Finance Manager

Kayla has been with us since September 2018. As the Finance Manager, she is responsible for NYS AHPERD Accounts Payable and Receivables. Her responsibilities for AP include reviewing, monitoring, reconciling, and paying NYS AHPERD bills. Her responsibilities for AR include managing membership invoicing, annual conference registration, and membership yearly subscriptions. Kayla coordinates our annual audit and 1099 tax filings. Along with the NYS AHPERD finances, she is also responsible for managing the financial records of the NYS AHPERD Foundation.

 

Contact Kayla!

Kelly Jendrzejewski

Administrative Assistant

Kelly has been with us since February 2021. She is responsible for managing the NYS AHPERD Social Media presence, coordinating our awards program, designs email flashes and a number of other task as assigned.

 

Contact Kelly!